The apartment smelled like peace.
For the first time in years, the oppressive shadow that had haunted their lives was gone.
No more looming eviction notices.
No more scrambling to align medication schedules with meager and late paychecks.
Jack had kept his promise, a feat his mother, for all her relief, couldn't quite fathom.
Jack stood in the kitchen, a faded hoodie draped over him, stirring instant noodles.
In the living room, Mia was engrossed in cartoons, her soft giggles occasionally drifting into the quiet space. From her room, his mom hummed a gentle, contented tune, her door ajar. Normalcy.
It should have wrapped him in a comforting warmth, yet Jack felt a strange distance. It was as if he were an observer, watching someone else's life unfold.
His hands went through the motions of stirring, but his mind remained tethered to the ring, to the static haze of the Shadow Wager, to the raw heat of his recent fight with Lupe.
His hands were still bruised, the knuckles swollen and tender. But beneath the superficial pain, he felt it… a raw strength that hadn't been there before. It was an unfamiliar weight, a subtle hum of power.
[Brawler's Strength (E-Rank) Active]
His grip on the spoon, seemingly casual, bent the metal just slightly, a testament to this newfound physical prowess.
Jack blinked, the small deformation snapping him back to the present.
He eased his grip, refocused, and then dished out the steaming bowls.
Mia looked up from the couch, her face breaking into a wide, radiant beam. "You're finally back."
He smiled. "Never left."
She skipped over, launching herself into a one-armed hug. Jack returned it carefully, mindful not to squeeze too tight, still adjusting to the new weight and power humming in his limbs.
The System pinged softly in the corner of his vision, a familiar, subtle overlay.
[Level: Bronze II]
[XP: 260/300]
[Next Tier: Bronze III – 301 XP]
[Recommended Action: Earn Final XP Through Low-Stakes Wager or Public Social Bet]
He dismissed the prompt with a mental flick. Not yet. He needed air, a moment to simply be.
***
Outside, the wind bit through his faded hoodie as he walked the familiar streets of Velmore. The sun, a low-slung orb, cast a golden haze across the sky, making the entire city feel strangely unreal, like a backdrop in a dream.
He blended seamlessly into the bustling crowd, just another student heading somewhere, nowhere in particular.
But inside, he was irrevocably changed. The power was there now—quiet, coiled, a constant companion.
[Active Traits: Analytical Eye (F), Brawler's Strength (E)]
He flexed his hand, the sensation of control both novel and empowering.
The world around him seemed to unfold at a fraction of its former speed, details sharper, nuances more apparent.
A street performer strummed a melancholic tune near a bus stop. A student couple, oblivious to their surroundings, argued passionately about the World Cup. Jack passed them all, his eyes sharp, his mind working with a newfound clarity.
His phone buzzed, pulling him from his observations.
"Wait… from the phone too?" He murmured.
[Side Opportunity Available: Campus Event – Public Startup Pitch]
[XP Gain Potential: +40]
[Recommended: Public Wager Format – Audience Vote Outcome Prediction]
Jack read the notification twice, a slow, predatory smirk curling his lips.
***
Velmore's business hall buzzed with expectant energy. Dozens of students filled the lecture theater, their whispers and murmurs creating a low hum. On the stage, a large banner declared the event: the annual 'Freshman Startup Pitch-Off.'
Dean spotted Jack from across the room and waved him over, a wide grin on his face. "Dude, this is perfect timing! They're letting upperclassmen participate this year too. You in?"
Jack took a deep, measured breath. The System prompted him again, its message almost mirroring Dean's question.
[New Challenge Available: Social Risk Wager – Public Format]
[Win Condition: Predict Top 3 Finishing Pitches]
[Stake: +40 XP | Trait Roll Chance: Passive or Low-Level]
[Accept?]
He considered the gap to Bronze III. Forty XP would more than cover it, pushing him past the threshold.
"Yes." he confirmed, the word barely a whisper.
He found an empty seat near the back and began to study the competitors. Instantly, the [Analytical Eye] kicked in, a silent, efficient assistant, dissecting the scene.
[Competitor 01 – Stammering. Nervous. Confidence: Low.]
[Competitor 02 – Over-rehearsed. Emotional Disconnect Detected.]
[Competitor 03 – Confident. Engaging. Win Likelihood: 74%]
He continued to scan, evaluating each student, each nervous twitch, each confident stance. When he had his assessment, he whispered his predictions to the System.
"3, 6, and 8. That's the final order."
[Prediction Logged]
The presentations began.
Each student, eager and anxious, pitched their business idea. Some stumbled through their slides, voices wavering. Others soared, their ideas taking flight with passionate delivery.
Jack watched, not the slides or the projected numbers, but the people themselves, their body language, the flicker in their eyes, the subtle inflections of their delivery.
He knew, with an almost uncanny certainty, before the judges had even begun their deliberations, who had won the crowd.
After an hour, the winners were announced. Jack's predictions landed perfectly, 3rd, 6th, and 8th.
[Wager Complete – Victory]
[XP Gained: +40]
[Current XP: 300/300]
[Bronze III Unlocked]
[New Trait Acquired: Calm Speech (E-Rank)]
[Effect: Removes social anxiety under pressure | Minor influence buff in public settings]
Jack leaned back in his chair, a profound sense of equilibrium settling over him.
The System's screen faded, and he felt the new trait settle in like cooling silk, a quiet, seamless integration into his being.
His heartbeat remained steady, unwavering. His thoughts were clear, unclouded by the usual anxieties of public interaction.
He stood. Dean was already grinning, an appreciative glint in his eye. "Bro. Did you just Jedi-mind-trick your way through that?"
Jack smiled calmly. "I read the room."
He didn't need to shout anymore. He didn't need to be angry. He just needed to see. And now, everyone else was starting to see him too.
[Chapter End – Bronze III Reached. New Wager Tiers Unlocked.]